Heel strike angle and foot angular velocity in the sagittal plane during running in different shoe conditions

Runners change their running style, e.g. heel strike strategy, to adapt to different shoe conditions [1]. Various mechanisms for adaptation are discussed [2,3]. Alteration of stiffness of the ankle joint at heel strike by dorsiflexion or plantarflexion of the foot seems to be disregarded as mechanism of adaptation. In this study, alterations of heel strike angle (HSA) and plantarflexion velocity (PFV) in the sagittal plane due to wearing different shoe conditions was examined. By this, adaptation in running style as a mechanism of shock attenuation should be investigated.